Everton’s season to date is very similar to Southampton’s last season.
Ronald Koeman has righted Everton’s ship this season
Ronald Koeman has generally had a positive first season at Everton, although it has followed a pattern that will be familiar to those who followed his time at Southampton closely.
The Toffees have suffered two disappointing cup exits to inferior opposition, a fate that befell his Southampton side numerous times as they were knocked out by Sheffield United, FC Midtjylland and2 Crystal Palace during his two years in charge.
Everton have also overcome a poor run of form in the Autumn, where they won only one of ten Premier League games, to climb the table to seventh.
The Dutchman suffered a similar run last season, albeit a bit later in the campaign, when Southampton lost eight matches in ten and their only win during that time was a baffling 4-0 triumph over Arsenal.
What Everton fans will now be hoping is that their season continues to mirror Koeman’s last on the South Coast, as Southampton went on a superb run to close out the term and finish with a record Premier League points total and a highest ever finish in sixth place.
Some stellar performances from Sadio Mane saw Koeman’s Southampton beat Manchester City and Liverpool in last season’s run-in
With 25 games gone Saints had 37 points – four fewer than Everton this campaign – but picked up 26 from the last 13 games which was bettered only by Champions Leicester City, who bagged 28.
Koeman did a fantastic job of keeping his players motivated despite their season effectively being over and if he can do so again a top six spot isn’t out of the question.
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